This Easy Viral Dinner Recipe Makes Zero Dirty Dishes (and It's Delicious)

Sleepaway camp was one of my favorite things about summer. I loved everything about that week, where I spent my days crafting, swimming, and sleeping under the stars.

One of my favorite things we did during camp was cook campfire dinners. We’d wrap our pre-portioned potatoes and hot dogs in foil, then toss the packet in the fire and let it cook in the embers. Perhaps that's why, as an adult, I love the concept of cooking food in foil. The method makes meal prep fun—plus it's relatively hands-off without much cleanup.

Imagine how excited I was, then, when I saw a foil packet trick on TikTok that used ravioli, pasta sauce, and broccoli? Of course I tried it! Here’s what I thought about the technique.

How to Make Foil Pack Ravioli

If you aren’t familiar with foil pack ravioli, a viral TikTok trend, let me explain. It starts with tearing off a big piece of aluminum foil, spraying with cooking spray, then emptying a 10-ounce bag of refrigerated ravioli onto it. From there, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, and a couple handfuls of broccoli florets (optional) are tossed into the stuffed pasta.

At that point, the packet is closed and baked at 350°F until the ravioli is cooked and the cheese is melted, 15 to 20 minutes. Once it’s ready, the foil is unwrapped to unveil the pile of saucy, cheesy ravioli and broccoli. It's dusted with grated Parmesan—and then it's up to you to decide if you want to eat it straight out of the foil or in a more “civilized" (read: boring) way on a plate. 

Why I Love It

You can’t beat how easy this meal is to make, or how simple it is clean up. For those two reasons alone, foil pack ravioli is a dish worth making, especially on a weeknight when time is tight. The ravioli comes out tender with the cheese perfectly melted on top.

The dish is also easy to customize, and I let my family create their own packets. My daughter gets to have her cheese ravioli, and my husband and I can enjoy the pasta stuffed with mushrooms. I set out the sauce, some different cheeses, vegetables, and other additions (my daughter loves jarred sliced pepperoncini and green olives) to add as they please. 

My Tips for Making Foil Pack Ravioli

• Use a large piece of foil. Don’t skimp on the foil or you’ll be faced with having to add another sheet to help keep things secure. A large piece allows you to pull on the sides and make a tidy pocket that won’t fall apart as you transport it to and from the oven. I’ve found that an 18-by-12-inch piece is perfect.
• Nonstick spray is key. Melted cheese is a sticky business, so generously coat the whole piece of foil with nonstick spray or brush it with olive oil before you add the ingredients.
• Customize away! I love broccoli but not necessarily paired with my ravioli. Luckily, there are no rules about which vegetables you can use with foil packet ravioli, so choose your own adventure. Some ideas: artichoke hearts, sun-dried or fresh tomatoes, roasted peppers, spinach, and diced summer squash.